Various industry publications are reporting that further layoffs have hit The Walt Disney Company including those that were previously at 21st Century Fox and those that had been with Disney prior to the acquisition.
UPDATE:
According to Variety, Disney will be laying off 70 to 80 people at National Geographic, which it acquired control of due to the 21st Century Fox acquisition. According to the report, National Geographic’s live-event, travel and publishing operations will be moved to existing Disney divisions. While they will continue to publish the iconic National Geographic magazine, it is reported that the US edition of National Geographic Traveler will cease publication.
How Many Employees Are Impacted?:
It is reported that nearly 60 employees have been laid off as part of the ongoing consolidation of Disney’s and 21st Century Fox’s operations.
What Divisions Were Affected?:
Apparently the layoffs hit the studios’ distribution departments including TV distribution and home entertainment
Anyone Specifically?:
20th Century Fox TV Distribution’s worldwide marketing executive vice president Greg Drebin and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment’s worldwide marketing and strategy senior vice president Jennifer Chai.
Is More to Come?:
Many expect more layoffs to hit through 2021 as a way of delivering promised cost cutting following the combination of the two businesses. It is unknown how many of the positions eliminated will be done through layoffs and how many will be done through normal attrition. It had been reported that several former 21st Century Fox employees have left since the acquisition was announced. Most of the layoffs are expected to come from the film studio or support positions such as finance and marketing.